City tackles downtown parking, funding for parks

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.

Hendersonville City Council voted Friday to put a bond referendum on the ballot in November to help fund $6 million in improvements at city parks.

Council members also looked at ways to free up more parking spaces downtown after fielding complaints from citizens about tickets and limited parking.

More than 100 motorists returned to their cars parked in the city's Dogwood lot after a recent Saturday afternoon concert downtown to find tickets on their windshield, according to one of the ticketed, Brian Tribby. The free spaces in the lot and a few of the leased ones were converted to metered spaces last month to accommodate a growing demand for parking.

Dogwood now has a total of 153 spots, up from 18 a year ago. Stickers on the meters inform motorists that fees are charged for parking in the spaces from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. But Tribby said he and others were under the impression that the spaces, even the leased ones, were open to the public on weekends.

Another woman, who lives downtown and leases a space in the lot, told city officials that she went to her spot one recent weekend to find it occupied. Loaded down with groceries and with two kids in tow, she had to hike through the rain a longer distance to get to her home because the space she paid for was taken.

Interim City Manager A. Lee Galloway said the council discussed installing "better markings and signage in the Dogwood lot to remind motorists that the reserved spaces in the lot are reserved 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

He said the council "expressed unanimous support" for protecting the rights of those paying to lease the spaces. They also agreed the city should enforce the law that those spaces be left open for the people who lease them.

The council asked the city to notify churches and seek their help in spreading the word that those who park in leased spaces could be fined.

Galloway told the council that Anita Lockhart, the city's parking enforcement officer, now has more requests from motorists wanting to lease spaces than she has spaces to lease. Council members suggested the city refer people seeking leased parking to other private lots in town.

In another move to free up spaces, Galloway said they will ask city employees parking along Fifth Avenue East to instead park in the city's Apple parking lot. The on-street parking along Fifth Avenue appears to be closer to Main Street than the Apple lot, he said.

At least 13 new spaces will be added to the downtown area once renovations to the sixth and seventh blocks of Main Street are complete.

City Public Works Director Tom Wooten said there are 472 on-street parking spaces, including 12 reserved for the handicapped, from Seventh Avenue to Barnwell Street and from Church Street to King Street. In the city's five public lots, 93 spaces are leased, 181 are metered and 13 are for the handicapped.

Bond for parks

Plans for a nearly $5 million renovation project at Berkeley Park, in addition to $1 million in work needed at the city's other park facilities, could be paid for by bonds, if enough voters approve in November.

Plans for Berkeley Park include upgrading the old baseball field, which has been in use at the park since the 1920s, and the addition of a soccer complex, amphitheater, nature and beginning biking trails, a dog park, a grove of memorial trees and playgrounds.

Mayor Barbara Volk said April 9 that the city is also looking at installing a greenway to connect Berkeley Park to Patton Park.

The park could take 10 to 12 years to build, with the city approving funds for development in phases from its capital improvement plan, she said. With a bond referendum, however, the park could be completed in about three years.

A total of $200,000 has been earmarked for Berkeley Park improvements from current revenues for the next six years. Some of the $40,000 set aside for next fiscal year could be transferred to the city's police department to cover an additional student resource officer. Funds from the bonds will be used strictly for park improvements.

City Council agreed to hire a bond counsel to help it come up with the appropriate wording for the upcoming referendum.

<p>Hendersonville City Council voted Friday to put a bond referendum on the ballot in November to help fund $6 million in improvements at city parks.</p><p>Council members also looked at ways to free up more parking spaces downtown after fielding complaints from citizens about tickets and limited parking.</p><p>More than 100 motorists returned to their cars parked in the city's Dogwood lot after a recent Saturday afternoon concert downtown to find tickets on their windshield, according to one of the ticketed, Brian Tribby. The free spaces in the lot and a few of the leased ones were converted to metered spaces last month to accommodate a growing demand for parking.</p><p>Dogwood now has a total of 153 spots, up from 18 a year ago. Stickers on the meters inform motorists that fees are charged for parking in the spaces from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. But Tribby said he and others were under the impression that the spaces, even the leased ones, were open to the public on weekends.</p><p>Another woman, who lives downtown and leases a space in the lot, told city officials that she went to her spot one recent weekend to find it occupied. Loaded down with groceries and with two kids in tow, she had to hike through the rain a longer distance to get to her home because the space she paid for was taken.</p><p>Interim City Manager A. Lee Galloway said the council discussed installing "better markings and signage in the Dogwood lot to remind motorists that the reserved spaces in the lot are reserved 24 hours a day, seven days a week."</p><p>He said the council "expressed unanimous support" for protecting the rights of those paying to lease the spaces. They also agreed the city should enforce the law that those spaces be left open for the people who lease them. </p><p>The council asked the city to notify churches and seek their help in spreading the word that those who park in leased spaces could be fined.</p><p>Galloway told the council that Anita Lockhart, the city's parking enforcement officer, now has more requests from motorists wanting to lease spaces than she has spaces to lease. Council members suggested the city refer people seeking leased parking to other private lots in town. </p><p>In another move to free up spaces, Galloway said they will ask city employees parking along Fifth Avenue East to instead park in the city's Apple parking lot. The on-street parking along Fifth Avenue appears to be closer to Main Street than the Apple lot, he said.</p><p>At least 13 new spaces will be added to the downtown area once renovations to the sixth and seventh blocks of Main Street are complete.</p><p>City Public Works Director Tom Wooten said there are 472 on-street parking spaces, including 12 reserved for the handicapped, from Seventh Avenue to Barnwell Street and from Church Street to King Street. In the city's five public lots, 93 spaces are leased, 181 are metered and 13 are for the handicapped. </p><p>Bond for parks</p><p>Plans for a nearly $5 million renovation project at Berkeley Park, in addition to $1 million in work needed at the city's other park facilities, could be paid for by bonds, if enough voters approve in November. </p><p>Plans for Berkeley Park include upgrading the old baseball field, which has been in use at the park since the 1920s, and the addition of a soccer complex, amphitheater, nature and beginning biking trails, a dog park, a grove of memorial trees and playgrounds.</p><p>Mayor Barbara Volk said April 9 that the city is also looking at installing a greenway to connect Berkeley Park to Patton Park.</p><p>The park could take 10 to 12 years to build, with the city approving funds for development in phases from its capital improvement plan, she said. With a bond referendum, however, the park could be completed in about three years.</p><p>A total of $200,000 has been earmarked for Berkeley Park improvements from current revenues for the next six years. Some of the $40,000 set aside for next fiscal year could be transferred to the city's police department to cover an additional student resource officer. Funds from the bonds will be used strictly for park improvements.</p><p>City Council agreed to hire a bond counsel to help it come up with the appropriate wording for the upcoming referendum.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>